In theory, everything Jimmy and Struggler say here is pretty right I suppose. In reality, however, strata managers don't 'file' every email of every decision (again, some of which would be very important). ECs are all-too-often stacked with self-interested owners wanting to get their own way, for their own ends and who aren't too keen on probity, governance or a record of the decisions being on file. Who's going to chase a paper trail. Who's going to bother going to the OFT or the CTTT? (Especially if they read Flat Chat.)
These days, Jimmy, you seem to be living in some sort of strata Utopia; probably the same one as Struggler. 'Rumour and gossip methods' are alive and well; as is tactical marginalization of anyone who gets in the way and the big Strata Managers who think they know which side their bread is buttered on help with this.